Roads diverged: An examination of violent and nonviolent pathways in the aftermath of the Bosnian war*

Abstract

Despite renewed interest among criminologists in war and genocide, still understudied are the implications of mass violence for human development and behavior over the life course. By drawing on detailed life history data gathered from 55 male Bosnian refugees and nationals, in this work, I examine the shared beginnings of men who experienced the Bosnian war and genocide (1992–1995) in their youth, as well as examine their divergent pathways over time and across two distinct postwar contexts. My findings reveal that violent pathways are shaped by the confluence of social–psychological mechanisms (e.g., the normalization of violence) and exogenous risk factors (e.g., family disruption and loss of male role models). Compared with nonviolent men, who emphasize themes of catharsis and resilience, and the emulation of prosocial models of masculinity, violent men's narratives are distinguished by themes of persecution and exile, the emulation of violent role models, and contextual barriers to attaining valued masculine identities. Beyond the experience of war, these findings have implications for understanding how early experiences of chronic violence and community disruption shape turning points and cultural frames over the life course, and they indicate that studies of violent pathways should grant greater primacy to the social–historical context and the meaning individuals ascribe to their experiences.

Stress and depression as pathways between violent conflict exposure and moral beliefs: Why people sometimes condone “bad” things.

“…One of the critical consequences of war exposure is changes in people’s moral beliefs and attitudes. Empirical literature points to the existence of a relationship between violent conflicts and different aspects of morality including the degree to which people view violence as acceptable (DiPietro, 2019; Lorenc & Branthwaite, 1986). In-depth interviews with veterans reveal that exposure to intense human suffering and cruelty in the course of military duty has changed their core moral beliefs.…”

Redemption and reproach: Religion and carceral control in action among women in prison

“…Observations over the course of 1 year illuminated how narratives were enacted in everyday social interactions and embodied in prescribed ways. Until now, scholarship on narrative identity has primarily focused on its relationship with future offending (Copes, 2016; DiPietro, 2018; Presser, 2009). By introducing observational data connecting narratives to action, I show how narratives are cultivated and protected through embodiment and reproach.…”

“…Viewing narratives as a framework on “how the world works” (Young, 2004), individuals draw on narratives to make sense of their actions (Mills, 1940). Narratives may operate alongside a number of prior experiences to guide future action when it comes to violence (DiPietro, 2018), drug use (Copes, 2016), and criminalized activity (Presser, 2009), yet we know far less on how narratives matter for an array of other behaviors related to deviance and punishment (Sandberg & Ugelvik, 2016). Furthermore, analysis of how organizational and institutional narratives matter for individual actions are missing from these debates.…”

The Contemporary Salience of Deprivation Theory: Prison Personnel Perceptions of Inmates and the Pains of Solitary Confinement

“…After each focus group and interview, we (1) debriefed among the team to discuss major themes that emerged during the visit, (2) typed up and synthesized the focus group and interview data, and (3) collectively met to review and identify additional potential themes (Lofland & Lofland, 2006). For the present study, the research team systematically reviewed all of the data both to identify potential experiences and impacts of solitary confinement on incarcerated persons and the prison system—as perceived by prison personnel—and to determine if there were additional experiences or impacts that the initial analysis overlooked (for a similar approach, see DiPietro, 2018). The researchers identified themes describing the various ways in which individuals were perceived to respond to the deprivations in solitary confinement.…”